DSA.. maybe a silly question

[hampshireman]

In or WTLL session this week.. We had the usual 'mail is down ; more hours to be taken out... etc etc.

Traffic data shows that mail is down. Apparently

Obviously questions were asked about how the figures are calculated.

My question; How is DSA worked into the traffic figures? Maybe this is me being daft. But how does the DSA process work?

Basically; do the DSA companies just collect from their clients and then we process? We walksort / sequence?

Also; how are loose letters calculated (i.e that which you sort on IPS.

Sorry if the question is daft .. Just need to get it clear

Many thanks

[slave]

My understanding was "loose letters" as you describe are from trays and a tray, according to managers that I've argued the toss with, has an "average amount of letters" - sometimes, as we have noticed it actually ends up a hell of a lot more (and sometimes less) - can't remember what figure it was now.

[fishtank]

Also; how are loose letters calculated (i.e that which you sort on IPS.

From RM in 2009.

How is delivered traffic volume measured?

The vast majority of letters – 82 per cent - is counted by machine with an accuracy of plus/minus one per cent. The remaining 18 per cent of letters, along with flats and packets, are counted in containers which are then multiplied by an average container fill to give the number of items.

To ensure that the average container fills are always accurate, they are continuously sampled throughout the year using a statistically valid sampling process. In total, Royal Mail samples almost 270,000 containers every year to ensure that the average container fills are always up to date and are accurate. Average container fills are updated every quarter to reflect the latest samples, thereby ensuring that they reflect seasonal trends. This rigorous and detailed approach gives a very accurate measure of delivered traffic volume today. We also monitor that we are following this thorough process to ensure that the measurement activity is undertaken correctly.

Why has the average letter container fill reduced in recent years?

The increase of letter mail that is sorted by machine has removed machineable letters from the manual letter stream. In 2005 we were only sorting approximately 60 per cent of letters by machine and the average manual letter container fill was 250 items per tray. Now in 2009 we are sorting 82 per cent of letters by machine, thereby removing machine compatible letters from the manual mail stream. This leaves only the thicker letter items in the manual mail stream, which reduces the number of items in a tray, hence a container fill of 170 items per tray.

[daveyeff]

in other words their counting system is bollox and totally inacurate. as jonny rotten sang ''the written word, is a LIE''

[hampshireman]

Also; how are loose letters calculated (i.e that which you sort on IPS.

From RM in 2009.

How is delivered traffic volume measured?

The vast majority of letters – 82 per cent - is counted by machine with an accuracy of plus/minus one per cent. The remaining 18 per cent of letters, along with flats and packets, are counted in containers which are then multiplied by an average container fill to give the number of items.

To ensure that the average container fills are always accurate, they are continuously sampled throughout the year using a statistically valid sampling process. In total, Royal Mail samples almost 270,000 containers every year to ensure that the average container fills are always up to date and are accurate. Average container fills are updated every quarter to reflect the latest samples, thereby ensuring that they reflect seasonal trends. This rigorous and detailed approach gives a very accurate measure of delivered traffic volume today. We also monitor that we are following this thorough process to ensure that the measurement activity is undertaken correctly.

Why has the average letter container fill reduced in recent years?

The increase of letter mail that is sorted by machine has removed machineable letters from the manual letter stream. In 2005 we were only sorting approximately 60 per cent of letters by machine and the average manual letter container fill was 250 items per tray. Now in 2009 we are sorting 82 per cent of letters by machine, thereby removing machine compatible letters from the manual mail stream. This leaves only the thicker letter items in the manual mail stream, which reduces the number of items in a tray, hence a container fill of 170 items per tray.

Thankyou.

But i still need to know how DSA works.

I need to satisfy my own mind ; so that I can challenge certain statements. Hope you can help

[Izzy]

Most market volumes are usually measured in £, not units sold. So the fact that the unit price of DSA mail is very much lower than items in the past means that RM can show a dramatic drop.